self-reliance

noun

self-re·​li·​ance ˌself-ri-ˈlī-ənts 

: reliance on one's own efforts and abilities

Synonyms of self-reliance

• independence
• autonomy
• self-sufficiency

Examples of self-reliance in a Sentence

some people don't achieve self-reliance until they're over 30 years old

Recent Examples on the Web

Their source was the collective enthusiasm of a population that had gone into revolution—a revolution forming committees of social self-reliance in every field. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

The music superstar grew up steeped in the ethic of self-reliance. — George F. Will, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2026

Traditional ideas about masculinity continue to prize self-reliance, emotional control, and endurance. — Rachel Docekal, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026

So, lacking any clear, unambiguous guidance on the future of V2X networks, autonomous-car makers—like Waymo, Tesla, Zoox, and Cruise—have leaned more on self-reliance, bulking up each vehicle with as many sensors and GPUs as possible. — IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-reliance

• appliance
• compliance
• defiance
• reliance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience
• science

Kids Definition

self-reliance

noun

self-re·​li·​ance

ˌsel-fri-ˈlī-ənts

: trust in one's own efforts and abilities

self-reliant

-ənt

adjective